Mounting bracket

ABSTRACT

A mounting bracket for mounting a first component onto a second component, includes a body member having a formation which is engageable with a corresponding formation on the second component to which the first component is to be attached to and an attachment member protruding from the body member. The attachment member is provided with resilient means co-operable with a corresponding formation on the first component.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a mounting bracket, particularly, butnot exclusively, a mounting bracket for mounting a first heat exchangingcomponent to a second heat exchanging component in an automobile.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is necessary to ensure that heat exchanging components are mountedsecurely in their operative positions. This is a particular issue inautomobile heat exchangers. The means for mounting the components mustbe such that it is resilient enough to withstand certain vibrations andimpact forces, yet remains a relatively straightforward form ofattachment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, there is provided a mounting bracketfor mounting a first component onto a second component, the mountingbracket including a body member having a formation which is engageablewith a corresponding formation on the second component to which thefirst component is to be attached to and an attachment member protrudingfrom the body member. The attachment member is provided with resilientmeans co-operable with a corresponding formation on the first component.

Preferably, the body member is also provided with resilient meansco-operable with a corresponding formation on the second component.

Preferably, the body member comprises a plastics block having asubstantially rectangular aperture for receiving a correspondingrectangular protrusion on the second component.

Preferably, the attachment member comprises a rectangular protrusionhaving the resilient means mounted thereon. More preferably, theresilient means includes a biased detent adapted to deform from anoutward position to an inward position as it engages with the componentand return back to its original position when the first and secondcomponents are mounted to one another.

Preferably, the first and second components are heat exchangercomponents for an automobile.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the mounting bracket according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mounting bracket of FIG. 1 in usewhen mounting a first heat exchanger component to a second heatexchanger component; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a mounting hook, not in accordance withthe present invention, located toward the bottom of the heat exchangercomponent.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

With reference to FIG. 1, a mounting bracket 10 comprises a blockmoulded from a plastics material. At one side, the bracket 10 has anaperture 12 having a rectangular cross section for accepting acorrespondingly shaped portion of a heat exchanger. An attachment member16 projects from the body member of the bracket 10 and has a chamferedend in order to assist insertion into a recess in a bracket of the heatexchanger. At the opposite side the bracket 10 has a lip 14 forconnection to a portion of the heat exchanger. Both the lip 14 and theattachment member 16 have resilient means in the form of biased detents18.

In the embodiment shown, the mounting bracket 10 is used to mount afirst heat exchanging component 20 onto a second heat exchangingcomponent 22 of an automobile. The rectangular aperture 12 of thebracket 10 is placed over a corresponding formation on the second heatexchanger 22. At the same time, the detent 18 on the lip 14 snaps intoengagement with a connection bracket 24 of the second heat exchangingcomponent 22. This secures the mounting bracket 10 to the second heatexchanging component 22. In order to mount the first heat exchangingcomponent onto the second heat exchanging component a connecting bracket26 of the first exchanging component is brought towards the projectingattachment portion 16 until the chamfered portions of the attachmentmember 16 meets the bracket 26. At this point further movement of thefirst heat exchanging component towards the second heat exchangingcomponent will cause the biased detent 18 to move inwardly and allow theattachment portion to pass into the bracket 26 of the first heatexchanging component 20. Once the attachment portion has been fullyinserted into the bracket 26, the biased detent snaps outwardly to lockthe first heat exchanging component to the second heat exchangingcomponent.

Although only a single mounting bracket is shown in the figures, it willbe appreciated that use of more than one mounting bracket may bedesirable, for example it may be desirable to have mounting bracket ateach of the four corners of the heat exchanging components.Alternatively, mounting hooks H may be used at selected corners, such asat the corners toward the bottom of the heat exchanger component, asshown in FIG. 3.

The mounting bracket provides both a hanging function and a locatingfunction for the heat exchanger component. This maximises the size ofheat exchangers which can be used in a given application.

Other advantages of the mounting bracket of the present inventioninclude:

providing a secure and reliable bracket which requires a minimal amountof space;

minimising the number of components required by minimising the need forscrews and other fasting means; and

allowing the components to be attached to one another very quickly andeasily.

Modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention, for example:

Although, in the above description, the mounting bracket is used tomount a first heat exchanging component to a second heat exchangingcomponent, it is clearly not limited to first and second components; itcould be used to mount additional (third, fourth etc.) heat exchangingcomponents to one another.

1. A mounting bracket for mounting a first component onto a secondcomponent, the mounting bracket comprising: a body member having aformation which is engageable with a corresponding formation on thesecond component to which the first component is to be attached to; atleast an attachment member protruding from the body member, wherein theattachment member is provided with resilient means co-operable with acorresponding formation on the first component.
 2. The mounting bracketaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the body member is alsoprovided with resilient means co-operable with a corresponding formationon the second component.
 3. The mounting bracket according to claim 1,characterized in that the body member comprises a plastics block havinga substantially rectangular aperture for receiving a correspondingrectangular protrusion on the second component.
 4. The mounting bracketaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the attachment membercomprises a rectangular protrusion having the resilient means mountedthereon.
 5. The mounting bracket according to claim 2, characterized inthat the resilient means comprises a biased detent adapted to deformfrom an outward position to an inward position as it engages with thecomponent and return back to its original position when the first andsecond components are mounted to one another.
 6. The mounting bracketaccording to claim 2, characterized in that the first and secondcomponents are heat exchanger components for an automobile.
 7. Amounting bracket for mounting a first heat exchanger component onto asecond heat exchanger component for an automobile, the mounting bracketcomprising: a body member having a formation which is engageable with acorresponding formation on the second heat exchanger component to whichthe first heat exchanger component is to be attached to, resilient meansco-operable with a corresponding formation on the second heat exchangercomponent, and a plastics block having a substantially rectangularaperture for receiving a corresponding rectangular protrusion on thesecond heat exchanger component; and at least an attachment memberprotruding from the body member, wherein the attachment member comprisesa rectangular protrusion having the resilient means mounted thereon,wherein resilient means co-operable with a corresponding formation onthe first component.
 8. A mounting bracket for mounting a first heatexchanger component onto a second heat exchanger component of claim 7,wherein said resilient means comprises a biased detent adapted to deformfrom an outward position to an inward position as it engages with theheat exchanger component and return back to its original position whenthe first and second heat exchanger components are mounted to oneanother